Boat construction



p 1965 R. w. SCHOPMEYER 3,208,422

BOAT CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 28, 1964 30 INVENTOR. RICHARD W. SCHOPMEYER FIG.2

ATTORNEY Sept. 28, 1965 R. w. SCHOPMEYER 3,208,422

BOAT CONS TRUCT I ON Filed Sept. 28, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fl 6. 5 INVENTOR. 6 I men/mo w. scnomevzn ATTORNEY P 1965 R. w. SCHOPMEYER 3,208,422

BOAT CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 28. 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR- F l G 6 RICHARD w. SCHOPMEYER WflJW ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,208,422 BOAT CONSTRUCTION Richard W. Schopmeyer, 403 Preston Drive, South Bend, Ind. Filed Sept. 28, 1964, Ser. No. 399,462 8 Claims. (Cl. 11466.5)

The present invention relates to boats and more particularly to boats of the hydrofoil type.

Various types of boats have been designed for raising the hull of a boat out of the water while the boat is in motion, thereby permitting the boat to move at a higher rate of speed than is practicably obtainable with boats or other vessels of comparable size and conventional construction. These prior boats of the hydrofoil type have had certain inherent defects or disadvantages, such as instability, unreliability, ditficulty in controlling and/or not suificiently versatile for general use, which has rendered them unsatisfactory except for a few specialized operations. The prior hydrofoil designs and constructions have also not been generally and practically adaptable to small and medium size craft, such as outboard boats and relatively small inboard boats. It is therefore one of the principal objects of the present invention to provide a hydrofoil structure for boats which is relatively simple in design and operation and rugged in construction and which can be incorporated in the prin cipal structure of a boat or made as a kit or separate unit and mounted on a conventional boat, without making any substantial changes in the basic boat structure.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an easily controlled and relatively safe hydrofoil boat which has good stability throughout the normal range of speed and which can be mounted on or incorporated in various types of small and medium size boats.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a compact hydrofoil unit which can be easily assembled from a kit and mounted on the structure of a completed boat Without perforating the boat hull or otherwise inter fering with the boat structure and which can be effectively controlled from one or more of the conventional seats in the boat.

A further object is to provide a hydrofoil boat of the aforesaid type, which gives greater stability to the boat and which is so constructed and designed that it does not interfere with the operation of the boat in the normal manner or.with the maneuverability of the boat in water of sufiicient depth to prevent the hydrofoil structure from contacting the bottom.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hydrofoil structure for a boat which permits the boat to operate in the conventional manner or with the hydrofoil operation, as desired by the operator, and which can be effectively controlled to vary the elevation of the boat hull above the normal water level regardless of the speed of the boat.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hydrofoil construction for boats which is relatively simple in construction and which can be fabricated from conventional materials, using standard tools and equipment and mounted on a boat in a relatively short time and with standard tools.

Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a boat having incorporated therein the present hydrofoil construction;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the boat shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a rear elevational view of the boat shown in the preceding figures;

Patented Sept. 28, 1965 FIGURE 4 is a bottom view of the boat shown in the preceding figures;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view of the boat shown in the preceding figures, the section being taken on line 5-5 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged transverse cross sectional view of the present boat, the section being taken on line 6-6 of FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 7 is a rear elevational view of a modified form of the present invention showing a hydrofoil construction of the type assembled from a kit and mounted on a conventional boat.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, numeral 10 designates a boat on which the present hydrofoil construction 12 is mounted, the boat consisting of the conventional parts, including bow 14, transom 16, sides 18 and 20 and bottom 22, the boat containing the conventional seats and possibly a deck (not shown). The particular type and construction of the boat are not important to the present invention, the one shown being for the purpose of illustrating the construction and operation of the present invention, which is readily adaptable to various types of boats and boat hulls.

The hydrofoil structure may be incorporated as an integral part of the boat as illustrated in FIGURES I through 6, or it may be a separate unit rigidly mounted on or secured to the boat in any suitable manner. In the latter arrangement, the unit is preferably readily removable so that the boat may be used apart from the hydrofoil structure. With reference to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGURES 1 through 6, a vertically positioned center board 30 is rigidly and permanently secured to the underside of bottom 22 and extends downwardly therefrom throughout a substantial length of the bottom of the boat. The center board may be of any suitable construction, either wood, metal or plastic, and may be solid or hollow, though preferably, in order to reduce the weight of the hydrofoil structure, it is of hollow fabricated construction. In FIGURES 1 and 2, the forward edge 32 of the center board slopes rearwardly at an acute angle from a point near the bow of the boat to a point rearwardly of the center of the boat, the center board extending to the boats stern and terminating in a substantially vertical end 34. The two lateral sides of the center board are essentially smooth and preferably taper inwardly slightly from top to bottom, terminating in a substantially horizontal bottom edge 40. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, laterally positioned horizontal running vanes 42, 44, 46 and 48 are mounted rigidly on one side of center board 30 and running vanes 42, 44', 46' and 48' are mounted rigidly on the other side of the center board. These members are spaced preferably uniformly from one another and from the underside of the bottom of the boat along the upper portion of the center board. While these vanes are shown as being substantially the same length, they may be varied in length from one to the other and they may be positioned at various distances along the respective sides thereof. Horizontal stabilizers 50 and 50' of generally triangular shape project laterally from the lower edge of the center board near the rear end thereof and terminate at an edge perpendicular to end 34 of the center board. Two vertical stabilizers 52 and 52' are mounted rigidly on the outer edges of the horizontal stabilizers 50 and 50', respectively, and assist the center board in maintaining the lateral stability of the boat which it is raised from the water during normal operation of the hydrofoil structure.

Two elevator flaps 54 and 54' are pivotally mounted by hinges 56 and 56', respectively, to the rear edges of horizontal stabilizers 50 and S and are operated by a pair of bars 58 and 58', the two bars being controlled and operated by handles 60 and 60, which are connected to bars 58 and 58' by levers 62 and 62, and levers 66 and 66. Levers 66 and 66 are rigidly connected by pins 68 and 68 to levers 62 and 62' at their upper end and to bars 58 and 58' at their lower ends, and bars 58 and 58 and 66 and 66' are disposed in a centrally located vertical slot 70 in the rear end of center board and move in said slot to raise and lower the respective elevator 54 or 54'. Levers 58 and 58 are pivotally connected at their rear ends to a vertically positioned arm 72 and 72 which in turn are rigidly secured to the inner edge of elevators 54 and 54', respectively. The two horizontal stabilizers 50 and 50 may be formed individually and attached separately to the lower edge of the center panel or they may be formed as a single unit as illustrated in FIGURE 4.

The boat may be driven by any suitable power drive, such as an outboard or inboard motor, and may be driven by either one or two outboard motors or inboard propellers located on either side of the center board. Elevators 54 and 54- are positioned sufficiently below the bottom of the boat that they do not interfere with normal operation of the propellers and may be used in conjunction with the propellers to increase the maneuverability of the boat.

In the operation of the present hydrofoil boat with the hydrofoil structure mounted thereon or incorporated therein, as illustrated, when traveling at a relatively low rate of speed the boat functions as a conventional boat. As the speed increases, the boat may operate as a conventional boat if the elevators 54 and 54 are maintained in a substantially horizontal position or in a position directed downwardly from their pivots 56 and 56'. If I the operator shifts levers 62 and 62 rearwardly, levers 58 and 58 move forwardly, thus pivoting the elevators 54 and 54' upwardly causing the front of the boat to nose upwardly and the boat to rise out of the water, one or more of the vanes emerging from the water and becoming fully exposed, The attitude of the boat can be readily controlled by positioning the elevators at a desired upwardly tilted angle and the boat maintained in a relatively stable position above the level of the water. In order to maneuver the boat to either side, the elevator on the side to which the boat will turn is raised, thus causing the boat to tilt slightly to the respective side and to turn in that direction. After the turning maneuver has been made the two elevators are again placed in the same relative position and maintained there until another maneuver is required. When the boat hull is to be lowered into the water, the elevators are moved to a position extending slightly downwardly from their pivot points 56 and 56.

In the modification illustrated in FIGURE 7, the construction of the hydrofoil unit is the same as that previously described and shown in FIGURES 1 through 6. However, in this latter embodiment, the center board is removably secured to the bottom of the conventional boat and the linkages for operating the elevators extend laterally from the upper edge of the center board and along the sides of the boat, thus avoiding the necessity of perforating the hull. This operating mechanism consists of levers 58 and 60, as incorporated in the previously described embodiment, and laterally extending shafts 80 and 80, vertical levers 82 and 82' and handles 84 and 84. Shafts 80 and 80 extend outwardly beyond the sides 18 and 20 of the boat and levers 82 and 82' extend upwardly above the top of the boat, thus permitting handles 84 and 84 to be operated without interference from the boat structure. The hydrofoil structure may be removably attached to the boat hull by an interlocking longitudinal slot and rib on the hull and center board. Any other suitable securing means may be used. The construction and operation of the hydrofoil are otherwise the same as previously described with reference to the embodiment shown in FIGURES 1 through 6.

While only two embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail herein, various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In combination with a boat having a bottom and a transom: a hydrofoil structure comprising a vertically positioned center board secured to said bottom and extending downwardly therefrom and throughout a major portion of the length of the bottom of the boat and having a longitudinal slot opening to the rear near the top thereof, said center board sloping downwardly and rearwardly along its forward edge and having a substantially vertical rear edge in substantial alignment with said transom, a plurality of horizontally positioned vanes longitudinally arranged with respect to said center board and extending rearwardly from the forward edge of said center board and terminating forwardly of the rear edge thereof, horizontally positioned stabilizers disposed on each side of said center board along the bottom near the rear edge and having small vertical stabilizer members extending upwardly from the tips thereof, elevator flaps pivotally connected to the rear edge of said stabilizers, operating levers in said boat, and linkages extending through said slot and connecting said operating levers with the respective elevator flaps.

2. In combination with a boat having a bottom: a hydrofoil structure comprising a vertically positioned center board secured to said bottom and extending downwardly therefrom and throughout a major portion of the length of the bottom of the boat and having a longitudinal slot opening to the rear near the top thereof, said center board sloping downwardly and rearwardly along its forward edge, a plurality of horizontally positioned vanes longitudinally arranged with respect to said center board and extending rearwardly from the forward edge of said center board and terminating forwardly of the rear edge thereof, horizontally positioned stabilizers disposed on each side of said center board along the bottom near the rear edge and having small vertical stabilizer members extending upwardly from the tips thereof, elevator flaps pivotally connected to the rear edge of said stabilizers, operating levers in said boat, and linkages extending through said slot and connecting said operating levers with the respective evelator flaps.

3. In combination with a boat having a bottom: a hydrofoil structure comprising a vertically positioned center board secured to said bottom and extending downwardly therefrom and throughout a major portion of the length of the bottom of the boat, said center board sloping downwardly and rearwardly along its forward edge and having a substantially vertical rear edge in substantial alignment with said transom, a plurality of horizontally positioned vanes longitudinally arranged with respect to said center board and extending rearwardly from the forward edge of said center board and terminating forwardly of the rear edge thereof, horizontally positioned stabilizers disposed on each side of said center board along the bottom near the rear edge, elevator flaps pivotally connected to the rear edge of said stabilizers, operating levers in said boat, and linkages connecting said operating levers with the respective elevator flaps.

4. In combination with a boat having a bottom: a hydrofoil structure comprising a vertically positioned center board secured to said bottom and extending downwardly therefrom and throughout a major portion of the length of the bottom of the boat, said center board sloping downwardly and rearwardly along its forward edge, a plurality of horizontally positioned vanes longitudinally arranged with respect to said center board and extending rearwardly from the forward edge of said center board and terminating forwardly of the rear edge thereof, horizontally positioned stabilizers disposed on each side of said center board along the bottom near the rear edge, elevator flaps pivotally connected to the rear edge of said stabilizers, operating levers in said boat, and linkages connecting said operating levers with the respective elevator flaps.

5. In combination with a boat having a bottom: a hydrofoil structure comprising a vertically positioned center board secured to said bottom and extending downwardly therefrom and throughout a major portion of the length of the bottom of the boat, said center board sloping downwardly and rearwardly along its forward edge, a plurality of horizontally positioned vanes longitudinally arranged with respect to said center board and extending rearwardly from the forward edge of said center board and terminating forwardly of the rear edge thereof, horizontally positioned stabilizers disposed on each side of said center board near the rear edge, elevator flaps pivotally connected to the rear edge of said stabilizers, operating levers, and linkages connecting said operating levers with the respective elevator flaps.

6. In combination with a boat having a bottom: a hydrofoil structure comprising a vertically positioned center board extending throughout a major portion of the length of the bottom of the boat, a plurality of horizontally positioned vanes longitudinally arranged with respect to said center board and on each side thereof and terminating forwardly of the rear edge thereof, horizontally positioned stabilizers disposed on each side of said center board near the rear edge, elevator flaps pivotally connected to the rear edge of said stabilizers, and operating levers for said flaps.

7. In combination with a boat having a bottom: a hydrofoil structure comprising a vertically positioned center board extending throughout a major portion of the length of the bottom of the boat, a plurality of horizontally positioned vanes longitudinally arranged with respect to said center board and on each side thereof and terminating forwardly of the rear edge thereof, horizontally positioned stabilizers disposed on each side of said center board near the rear edge, elevator flaps pivotally connected to the rear edge of said stabilizers, operating levers, and linkages extending along the sides of the boat and connecting said operating levers with the respective elevator flaps.

8. In combination with a boat having a bottom: a hydrofoil structure comprising a vertically positioned center board extending throughout a major portion of the length of the bottom of the boat, said center board sloping downwardly and rearwardly along its forward edge, a plurality of horizontally positioned vanes longitudinally arranged With respect to said center board and extending rearwardly from the forward edge of said center board and terminating forwardly of the rear edge thereof, horizontally positioned stabilizers disposed on each side of said center board along the bottom near the edge and having small vertical stabilizer members extending upwardly from the tips thereof, elevator flaps pivotally connected to the rear edge of said stabilizers, operating levers, and linkages over the sides of the boat and connecting said operating levers with the respective elevator flaps.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,139,303 12/38 Grunberg 14466.5 2,387,700 10/45 Gribb ll4l40 X 2,748,400 6/56 Kregale 11466.5 2,858,788 11/58 Lyman 1l4-66.5 2,955,559 10/60 Palmer et al. 114-665 2,980,047 4/61 Korgamofi" et al. 11466.5 X

FOREIGN PATENTS 458,771 12/36 Great Britain.

MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner. FERGUS S. MIDDLETON, Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A BOAT HAVIN A BOTTOM AND A TRANSOM; A HYDROFOIL COMPRISING A VERTICALLY POSITIONED CENTER BOARD SECURED TO SAID BOTTOM AND EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY THEREFROM AND THROUGHOUT A MAJOR PORTION OF THE LENGTH OF THE BOTOM OF THE BOAT AND HAVING A LONGITUDINAL SLOT OPENING TO THE REAR NEAR THE TOP THEREOF, SAID CENTER BOARD SLOPING DOWNWARDLY AND REARWARDLY ALONG ITS FORWARD EDGE AND HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL REAR EDGE IN SUBSTANTIAL ALIGNMENT WITH SAID TRANSOM, A PLURALITY OF HORIZONTALLY POSITIONED VANES LONGITUDINALLY ARRANGED WITH RESPECT TO SAID CENTER BOARD AND EXTENDING REARWARDLY FROM THE FORWARD EDGE OF SAID CENTER BOARD AND TERMINATING FORWARDLY OF THE REAR EDGE THEREOF, HORIZONTALLY POSITIONED STABILIZERS DISPOSED ON EACH SIDE OF SAID CENTER BOARD ALONG THE BOTTOM NEAR THE REAR EDGE AND HAVING SMALL VERTICAL STABILIZER MEMBERS EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM THE TIPS THEREOF, ELEVATOR FLAPS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO THE REAR EDGE OF SAID STABILIZERS, OPERATING LEVERS IN SAID BOAT, AND LINKAGE EXTENDING THROUGH SAID SLOT AND CONNECTING SAID OPERATING LEVERS WITH THE RESPECTIVE ELEVATOR FLAPS. 